Entertaining

Avo-sicles: Avocado Popsicles to Beat the Heat

As summer hits and temperatures start to soar into the sweat-all-day zone, you’ll need something to help cool off. Enter the avo-sicle, a quick and refreshing treat that is about to become your summer BFF. Think about it: As a fruit, avocados are sweet and creamy, the perfect base for a popsicle. And there are endless variations of avo-popsicle combinations! Check out these avo-sicle recipes that are great for kids and adults alike.

Avo 101

Since the base of every avo-sicle is (spoiler alert) an avocado, it helps to know how to pick the best one for the job. You’ll be freezing the popsicle immediately, so you’ll want a perfectly ripe avocado, which means when you gently press on it, it yields a bit to your pressure. Too much squish and it’s overripe, no squish at all means it’s unripe. Still confused? Check out this quick and fun video! If your avo is unripe, just place it in a paper bag until it’s ripe (this works even better with a banana in the bag).

The Recipes

This avo pop from Avocados From Mexico is a great beginner recipe. It’s got pure avo flavor (especially if you use water), and a subtle spice from cinnamon and nutmeg, which hints at the avo’s Mexican origins.

If you want to complement avocado’s naturally creamy texture, try pairing it with coconut milk, as instructed in this avocado and coconut ice pop recipe from Avocado Central. It’s refreshing and lends the pop a tropical flavor that’s perfect for summertime.

Chocolate and avo is a no-brainer pairing — add a little fresh mint and prepare to be blown away. Mint is a great flavor to cool you down on a hot summer’s day. Bring a can of coconut milk and a generous handful of fresh mint leaves to a simmer. Set the milk aside to let it cool while the mint flavor infuses. Strain the mint leaves out and place the milk, along with the flesh of two avocados, into a blender. Add a banana, a generous glug of agave or maple syrup, 1 tsp. each of vanilla and peppermint extract, and 3 oz. of chocolate chips. Blend until smooth and pour into popsicle molds.

For a fruity popsicle, avo pairs great with a variety of other fruits. Berry-avo-pops are the perfect way to pay homage to your favorite summer-only fruit. Pineapple makes a tangy, delicious partner for sweet avo, as does mango. Use the basic avo-pop recipe above and mix and match to your heart’s content!

Avo-sicles are simple to make, have endless variety, and offer epic refreshment. Once your family tastes them, the only challenge will be keeping enough of them on hand all summer long!